The cards promise savings of up to 70 percent for users, with 50,000 drugs eligible for discount; what sets it apart from others is that a donation is made to the Chesapeake Humane Society each time a card is used.

"In Hampton Roads, nearly 200,000 residents are uninsured according to U.S. Census figures. Over half of those are working class families trying to make ends meet," says David Smith representing the AxiaRx program.

The card works with local pharmacies, not drug companies, to provide deep discounts. The pharmacies benefit because card users buy their prescriptions locally instead of via mail order. In Virginia, more than 1,500 retail pharmacies participate.

The Chesapeake Humane Society provided 2,900 spay/neuter surgeries last year and microchipped 1,000 pets and held 25 adoption events.